Wildscreen PANDA AWARDS

Celebrating the Best in Natural World Storytelling

Submissions for the 2024 Panda Awards are now open!

Since 1982

The globally acclaimed Panda Awards, the ‘Green Oscars’ of the international wildlife film and TV industry, have sat at the heart of the Wildscreen Festival since 1982. They celebrate the very best in the natural world storytelling craft, and remain the highest honour in the industry.

The competition comprises of 14 categories and three special awards, including the coveted Golden Panda for the best overall production.

The 2024 competition also welcomes the return of the Children’s Award, recognising the importance of connecting younger generations with nature, and a new Special Recognition Award for Field Craft to recognise the skill, craft and importance of local, in-country field crew within the natural history genre.

  • Behaviour
  • *NEW Children's Award
  • Cinematography
  • Editing
  • Emerging Talent
  • *NEW Field Craft (Special Recognition)
  • Impact
  • Music
  • On-Screen Talent
  • Producer / Director
  • Production Management Team
  • Scripted Narrative
  • Series
  • Sound
  • Sustainability

Trophies

Were you nominated, selected or a winner for one of our competitions? Order duplicate certificates and trophies for the rest of your team before Fri 28 Oct.

Submitting Your Film

Submtting your film for consideration in Wildscreen’s 2024 Panda Awards has never been simpler.  

Now accepting submissions exclusively through Filmfreeway, our Earlybird submission discount window opens January 23rd, and will remain open till February 23rd. 

Submissions will of course stay open after this date, though at a slightly higher price, until our final Late deadline closes on May 10th. So what are you waiting for? Get those submissions in! 

Rules & Guidelines for 2024 submitters are listed on our Filmfreeway page.

Reasons To Enter

The world renowned ‘Green Oscars’ of the natural history industry recognise the very best in the craft of wildlife filmmaking and photography, selected by juries of industry experts across the globe.

Each category will receive 3 shortlisted nominations, who receive a certificate and laurel. The winning production will be announced at the Panda Awards Ceremony during Wildscreen Festival. Each winner will receive a bronze panda statue, winner certificate and laurel.

All submissions to the Panda Awards are in the running for the coveted Golden Panda Award given to the overall best production.

How To Enter

Before submitting your work, please review our competition Rules & Guidelines. All submissions can be made through our submissions portal on FilmFreeway.

Important Submission Dates

  • January 23rd – Earlybird Window Opens
  • February 23rd – Regular Window Opens & Earlybird Window Shuts
  • April 12th – Late Window Opens & Regular Window Shuts
  • May 10th – Final deadline for entries
For more information see our Festival FAQs.
 
 

Submitting Your Film

Submitting your film for consideration in Wildscreen’s 2024 Panda Awards has never been simpler.  

Now accepting submissions exclusively through FilmFreeway, our Earlybird submission discount window is now open, and will remain open till February 23rd. 

Reasons To Enter

The world renowned ‘Green Oscars’ of the natural history industry recognise the very best in the craft of wildlife filmmaking and photography, selected by juries of industry experts across the globe.

Panda Awards Laurel

Each category will receive 3 shortlisted nominations, who receive a certificate and laurel. The winning production will be announced at the Panda Awards Ceremony during Wildscreen Festival. Each winner will receive a bronze panda statue, winner certificate and laurel.

All submissions to the Panda Awards are in the running for the coveted Golden Panda Award given to the overall best production.

How To Enter

Before submitting your work, please review our competition Rules & Guidelines. You can also listen to them as an accessible audio recording.

All submissions can be made through our submissions portal on FilmFreeway.

Important Dates

  • January 23rd – Earlybird Window Opens
  • February 23rd – Regular Window Opens & Earlybird Window Shuts
  • April 12th – Late Window Opens & Regular Window Shuts
  • May 10th – Final deadline for entries
For more information see our Festival FAQs.

Field Craft (Special Recognition)

This brand new award recognises the skill, craft and importance of local, in-country field crew within the natural history genre. Nominated and judged by industry peers, the award will celebrate an individual such as field guide, driver and local conservationist who has made a significant contribution to the industry spanning a number of years and productions.

This special recognition award seeks to celebrate those with specialist skills that do not always receive the recognition they deserve. The award is entirely free and there is no cost involved in making a nomination.

Eligibility Criteria

• Individuals must be nominated by an industry peer in order to be considered for this award.
• The nominated individual must have worked on a minimum of three productions.
• We actively encourage nominees who’s specialist skill does not always appear in production credits.

Panda Awards 2022

Congratulations to the outstanding productions nominated for the 2022 Panda Awards and those who received a coveted Wildscreen Panda.

Out of the 700+ submissions from 38 countries, these final 25 shorts, features and series shone the brightest, featured the very best craft and surprised our jury with their achievements.

Plimsoll Golden Panda Award

My Garden of a Thousand Bees

Passion Planet, The WNET Group, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios in association with Ammonite Films

United Kingdom

Panda in the Pocket Award

The Bastard King

Terra Mater Studios, Bonne Pioche, Shibumi Films

Austria, Germany, France

Behaviour Award

My Garden of a Thousand Bees (Winner)

Passion Planet, The WNET Group, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios in association with Ammonite Films

United Kingdom

The Green Planet: Desert Worlds

BBC Studios, PBS, bilibili, ZDF, China Media Group CCTV9, France Televisions & The Open University

United Kingdom

Tiny World – Island

Plimsoll Productions

United Kingdom

Films at 59 Cinematography Award

Polar Bear (Winner)

Silverback Films

United Kingdom

Dynasties II: Puma

BBC Studios NHU

Key Cinematography Credit(s): John Shier

United Kingdom

The Green Planet: Tropical Worlds

BBC Studios, PBS, bilibili, ZDF, China Media Group CCTV9, France Televisions & The Open University

Key Cinematography Credit(s): Tim Shepherd, Oliver Mueller, Todd Kewley, James Aldred, John Brown, Sam Lewis, Chris Field, Eric Huyton, Andrew Lawrence

United Kingdom

Deluxe Editing Award

My Garden of a Thousand Bees (Winner)

Passion Planet, The WNET Group, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios in association with Ammonite Films

Key Editor(s): Steve White

United Kingdom

Patrick and the Whale

Terra Mater Studios

Key Editor(s): Mark Fletcher

Austria

Penguin Town: Learning to Fly 

Netflix, Red Rock Films, Red Rock Films International

Key Editor(s): Kevin Chapados, John Freeburn

South Africa

Tangled Bank Studios Emerging Talent Award

Lior Kestenberg (Winner)

For the film Snakes & Ladders University of the West of England

United Kingdom, Israel

Mattia Cialoni

For the film My Neighbour is a Bear University of the West of England

United Kingdom

Conor Ferris

For the film Seabird National Film and Television School

United Kingdom

Save our Seas Foundation Impact Award

Path of the Panther (Winner)

Grizzly Creek Films, Wildpath, Common Pictures

United States

Bears About the House

BBC Studios Natural History Unit

United Kingdom

Tiger 24

W Films, The Tiger Fund

United States

Music Award

The Bastard King (Winner)

Terra Mater Studios, Bonne Pioche, Shibumi Films

Key Credit(s) for Music: Laurent Garnier, Pierre LeFeuvre

Austria, Germany, France

Nature’s Networks

A TERRA MATER  FACTUAL STUDIOS PRODUCTION

Key Credit(s) for Music: Joerg Magnus Pfeil, Siggi Mueller

Austria

The Green Planet: Water Worlds

BBC Studios, PBS, bilibili, ZDF, China Media Group CCTV9, France Televisions & The Open University

Key Credit(s) for Music: Benji, Merrison, Will Slater

United Kingdom

UWE On-Screen Talent Award

Warren Pereira (Winner)

In Tiger 24

W Films, The Tiger Fund

United States

Aaron Gekoski

In Eyes of the Orangutan

A TERRA MATER FACTUAL STUDIOS / CHRIS SCARFFE FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY production

Austria

Jack Harries

In Seat at the Table: How The Climate Crisis Affects Us All

Studio Silverback

United Kingdom

Photo Story Award

Historical Rescue of Caimans in Pantanal (Winner)

Photographer: Fernando Jara Faciole

Brazil

Fighting the Heat

Photographer: Doug Gimesy

Australia

Planktonium

Photographer: Jan van Ijken

Netherlands

Emerging Talent Photo Story Award

The Lwiro Reserve

Photographer: Guerchom Ndebo

The Democractic Republic of the Congo

CVP Producer/Director Award

David Allen, Martin Dohrn and Gaby Bastyra (Winner)

For the film My Garden of a Thousand Bees

Passion Planet, The WNET Group, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios in association with Ammonite Films

United Kingdom

Mark Fletcher, Walter Köhler and Wolfgang Knöpfler

For the film Patrick and the Whale Terra Mater Studios

Austria

Elisabeth Oakham

For the episode The Green Planet: Human Worlds

BBC Studios, PBS, bilibili, ZDF, China Media Group CCTV9, France Televisions & The Open University

United Kingdom

Off The Fence Production Team Award

Path of the Panther (Winner)

Grizzly Creek Films, Wildpath, Common Pictures

Production Team: Eric Bendick, Carlton Ward Jr., Tori Linder, Thomas Winston, Jeff Reed, Malia Byrtus, Danny Schmidt, Dawson Dunning, Rick Smith, Katie Bryden, Andrew Harrison Brown, Scott Sterling, Ashley Siana, Alex Freeze, Kevin Matley, Brian Eimer, Lauren Yoho, George McKenzie Jr.

United States

Patagonia – Life on the Edge of the World

Plimsoll Productions Team: Martha Holmes, James Smith, Linda Stephens, Kate Laurie, David Hayes, Rene Araneda, Kevin Zaouali, Rob Wootton, Nick Smith-Baker, Adrian Seymour, Linda Dale, Claire Beirne, Laura Jones, Zoe Strasman, Josie Taylor, Kayleigh Mann, Coli Whelan, Tessa Chan, Ceci Vargas, Sara Montoya, Tom Colvile, Ignacio Walker, Kendra Ivelic.

United Kingdom

Springwatch 2020

BBC Studios Natural History Unit ‘The Watches Production Team’ including; Rebecca Candy, Helen Wallbank, Lee Rich, Matthew Andrews, Ben Harris, Laura Howard, Laura Whitley, Rosemary Edwards, Joanna Brame, Mark Flowers. The Open University.

United Kingdom

Scripted Narrative Award

Penguin Town: Hot and Bothered  (Winner)

Netflix, Red Rock Films, Red Rock Films International

Key Scriptwriter(s): Andy Mitchell

South Africa

My Garden of a Thousand Bees

Passion Planet, The WNET Group, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios in association with Ammonite Films

Key Scriptwriter(s): David Allen, Martin Dohrn

United Kingdom

Pumas: Legends of the Ice Mountains- Episode 2: Rebirth

A TERRA MATER FACTUAL STUDIOS, WILDLIFE FILMS production

Key Scriptwriter(s): Dereck Joubert

Austria

Terra Mater Studios Series Award

The Green Planet (Winner)

BBC Studios, PBS, bilibili, ZDF, China Media Group CCTV9, France Televisions & The Open University

United Kingdom

Mediterranean: Life Under Siege

Boreales

France

Patagonia – Life on the Edge of the World

Plimsoll Productions

United Kingdom

Penguin Town

Netflix, Red Rock Films, Red Rock Films International

South Africa

Films at 59 Sound Award

Welcome to Earth: The Silent Roar (Winner)

Nutopia

Key Credit(s) for Sound: Sam Castleton, Tom Foster, Jay Price, Phil Bax, Sean Millar, Parker Brown

United Kingdom

My Garden of a Thousand Bees

Passion Planet, The WNET Group, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios in association with Ammonite Films

Key Sound Credit(s): Jonny Crew, Paul Ackerman, Hannah Gregory

  United Kingdom

Patrick and the Whale

Terra Mater Studios

Key Credit(s) for Sound: Bernhard Zorzi, Michael Plöderl

Austria

Aurum Sustainability Award

Springwatch 2021 (Winner)

BBC Studios Natural History Unit

United Kingdom

Surviving Paradise: A Family Tale

Netflix, Wild Space Productions, Natural History Film Unit Botswana and Freeborne Media

United Kingdom

SURVIVORS: Rediscovering the Short-Tailed Rain Crayfish

Bookend Trust / Bookend Enterprises Pty. Ltd

Australia

Festival Advisory Board Outstanding Achievement

Production Management

“This award for Outstanding Achievement is to recognise each and every member of Production Management in each and every company whose mission it is to give voice to the wonders and trials of our planet.” – Jeff Wilson

Planet Earth

Chris Parsons' Outstanding Achievement Award

Janet Han Vissering

“This award is given in recognition of your significant contribution to wildlife filmmaking, conservation and the public’s understanding of the environment.” – Bertie Gregory

Lifetime Achievement Award

Miles Barton

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by Mike Gunton on behalf of Wildscreen to honour the exceptional work and life of Miles Barton. Alex Barton collected the award on behalf of Miles at the Panda Awards Ceremony.

Panda Awards Jury

Wildscreen has assembled industry experts across all crafts, fields and countries to help select the very best productions of the past two years.

We would like to thank our dedicated jury members for their time, expertise and careful consideration!

Final Jury

Once our nominees had been decided, our Final Jury were assembled to carefully deliberate the winner of each of our Panda Awards.

Vanessa Berlowitz (Chair)

Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Wildstar Films (UK)

Alex Soullier

Producer, Bonne Pioche (France)

Pragna Parsotam-Kok

Producer & Storyteller, NEWF (South Africa)

 

Richard Ladkani

Director & Cinematographer (Austria)

Ruth Berry

Director/ Producer (Austria)

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Nomination Jury

The first round of judging in the Panda Awards was coordinated by the Nomination Jury, a large international team of experienced judges, divided into category specialities, who reviewed each submission and agreed upon a top 3 nominees per award.

Ruth Berry (Chair of Nomination Jury)

"This year’s diversity of subject matter and film makers brought 700 entries from 38 countries. Covid continued to bring us closer to our own backyards, inspiring intimate storytelling experiences and some brave experiments... Judging hundreds of films and discussing their merits is challenging and time consuming. But judges unanimously agreed that it was a wonderful experience. "

Alex Tate

Head of Development, True to Nature

Andres Sehinkman

Director, Planta Alta

Aner Etxebarria Moral

Conservation and Anthropology Filmmaker

Ashwika Kapur

Director/Producer

Axel Drioli

Director/ Wildlife Sound Recordist, Sounding Wild

Barnaby Taylor

Composer, Barnaby Taylor Music Ltd. 

Candice Odgers

Editor/Producer, Think Lemonade Productions

Caroline Brett

Producer/Director/Writer, Shake the Tree Productions

Chris Scarffe

Director, Chris Scarffe Film & Photography Ltd

Ester De Roij

Shooting AP, BBC

Faith Musembi

Producer Director, Wildstar Films Ltd.

Georg Michael Fischer

Film Editor 

Hana Canter

COO, Wild Space Productions

Helen Wallbank

Production Manager, BBC Studios

Ivo Filatsch

Executive Producer, Terra Mater Studios

Jamie McPherson

Director of Photography

Jo Avery

João Paulo Krajewski

DOP, Natural History Brazil

Jolene Gallet

Production Manager

Jonny Gunton

Kat Gomero

Associate Video Producer, WCS

Laura Harris

Head of Development, BBC Studios NHU

Max Phillips

Commercial Operations Lead, Ecologi

Mel Rodrigues

Founder, Gritty Talent

Norio Matsumura

Producer, NHK Enterprises

Robert Hicks

Composer

Roger Webb

Executive Producer, BBC Studios NHU

Rosemary Edwards

Executive Producer, BBC Studios

Roser Canela-Mas

Sustainability Consultant for Film & TV

Rosie Thomas

Producer/Director, BBC Studios

Rutendo Shackleton

Natural History Presenter

Sabrina Scollan

Development Producer, True to Nature

Sarah Bright

Editor and DIT, Co-Founder at Cunning Media

Surane Weerasinghe

Digital Producer, Love Nature, Blue Ant Media

Photo Jury

Assembled to select the very best natural world stories for the Photo Story Award, our Photo Jury of esteemed experts spans across three continents and boasts award-winning photographers, head curators and visual narrative specialists. Thank you to our Photo Jury for selecting our incredible Photo Story Nominees!

Kaitlin Yarnall

(Photo Jury Chair) Chief Storytelling Officer, National Geographic Society

Azu Nwagbogu

Director, African Artists’ Foundation, LagosPhoto Festival, Artbase Africa

 

Ami Vitale

Photographer, National Geographic, Nikon

Laurent Ballesta

Photographer, Co-Creator,  Andromède Océanologie

Panda Awards Sponsors

Drinks Reception Sponsor

Official Music Partner of the Panda Awards After Party